Celebrating International Women's Day with Bay Path's Carol Leary: Believe in your dreams

Republican Photo By DON TREEGER Carol A. Leary, president of Bay Path College in Longmeadow, has a long list of accomplishments to her credit since taking over the top post at the college in 1994.

Carol A. Leary, president of Bay Path College in Longmeadow, has a long list of accomplishments to her credit since taking over the top post at the college in 1994.

With Leary at the helm, the college has added a graduate school with 10 master of science degree programs, added new baccalaureate programs, professional certificates and two additional campus locations.

Leary, with an undergraduate degree from Boston University, a master of science degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a doctorate of philosophy degree from The American University, has steadily moved up the ranks of academic administrative posts.

She has worked at Siena College, Boston University and the Washington Campus Organization in Washington, D.C.

Leary is also active in community and professional service and serves on several boards, including The Frank Stanley Beveridge Foundation, Inc., United Bank and the Governance Committee of the Springfield Economic Development Council.

What has given you the greatest sense of accomplishment as a woman?

I am a beneficiary of the women’s movement of the 1960s.

It is because of the efforts of those brave women who advocated for social, economic, and educational change, that I am today the president of Bay Path.

As an educator, I am honored to continue that legacy as the leader of a women’s college with more than 2,220 students on three campuses, and take great satisfaction in observing the unlimited opportunities women now have for both professional and personal success at any age.

How has your field changed to better prepare women for the world and what more needs to be done?

In the United States, to compete in the domestic and global marketplace, we need more college graduates. Educating women will be a key component in that statistic.

Without a doubt, technology and the rapid shifts in the economy have made us adapt how we teach our students — and how we provide access to higher education.

Today, traditional models of learning have been replaced by dynamic, interactive classrooms, discussion-based online sessions, or a combination of the two.

We need that flexibility in modes of teaching-learning because it fits our students’ lives.

Increasingly, experiential learning — learning by doing — will take on a stronger presence in higher education, including study abroad and community service opportunities that shape character and confidence, and, most important, cultural perspective.

What woman was your greatest influence?

My grandmother and mother influenced me more than anyone else in life. We lived as one family with my immigrant grandparents.

My grandmother showed me what “true” caring for others means and the importance of treating everyone equally and with respect.

My mother sacrificed to put me through college. She knew the importance of an education, but also emphasized that hard work is the essential ingredient for success.

What advice do you have for women today in terms of balancing their dreams?

Dreams are important to have because they give purpose and joy to life. Often, and particularly for women, our lives become interrupted by the unexpected.

The important fact to remember is that it is never too late to attain your life’s desire, and with planning, perseverance, hard work, and patience, dreams can be achieved.

At Bay Path, we are fond of sharing this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”